Close to the shores of Lake Michigan, Aurora Borealis Motel offers a convenient retreat with free in-room WiFi and parking. Enjoy delicious meals at the restaurant or grab a snack from the vending machine. The helpful staff has left a lasting impression on previous guests.
Star Line Mackinac Island Main Dock - St. Ignace - 3 min drive - 3.3 km
Castle Rock - 5 min drive - 7.6 km
Mackinac Bridge - 6 min drive - 6.9 km
Kewadin Casino - St. Ignace - 6 min drive - 9.8 km
Fort Mackinac - 41 min drive - 12.6 km
Getting around
Pellston, MI (PLN-Pellston Regional) - 28 min drive
Sault Ste. Marie, MI (CIU-Chippewa County Intl.) - 35 min drive
Mackinac Island, MI (MCD) - 4 miles/6.4 km
Free area shuttle
Free casino shuttle
Restaurants
McDonald's - 2 min drive
Clyde's Drive-In - 18 min walk
Homemade Pasties / Zodiac Party Store - 2 min drive
The Wild Blueberry - 1 min walk
Burger King - 2 min drive
About this property
Aurora Borealis Motel
At Aurora Borealis Motel, you'll be within a 10-minute drive of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Free perks include WiFi, self parking, and continental breakfast daily between 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM. Also, Mackinaw City Ferry Terminal and Headlands International Dark Sky Park are within a short drive. Fellow travelers love the helpful staff.
At a glance
DONE
Hotel size
56 rooms
DONE
Arriving/Leaving
Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: midnight
Minimum check-in age: 18
Check-out time is 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out available
DONE
Special check-in instructions
The front desk is open daily from 8:00 AM - midnight
Front desk staffed during limited hours
DONE
Required at check-in
Credit card, debit card, or cash deposit required for incidental charges
Government-issued photo ID may be required
Minimum check-in age is 18
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Children
No cribs (infant beds)
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Pets
Pets not allowed
Service animals welcome
WIFI
Internet
Free WiFi in public areas
Free WiFi in rooms
LOCAL_PARKING
Parking
Free uncovered onsite self parking
DONE
Offsite
Free area shuttle
Free casino shuttle
DONE
Other information
Designated smoking areas
Property amenities
Food and drink
Free continental breakfast each morning 8:00 AM–11:00 AM
Restaurant
Coffee shop
Coffee/tea in a common area
Traveling with children
Free local shuttle
Services
Front desk (limited hours)
Tour/ticket assistance
Room amenities
Be entertained
Television
Cable TV channels
Home comfort
Air conditioning and heating
Coffee/tea maker
Sleep well
Bed sheets provided
What to enjoy
Balcony or patio
Freshen up
Shower/tub combination
Free toiletries
Hair dryer
Towels
Stay connected
Desk
Free WiFi
Free local calls
More
Daily housekeeping
Access via exterior corridors
Guidebooks/recommendations
Special features
Dining
Wild Blueberry - Onsite restaurant.
Fees & policies
Renovations and closures
The property is closed between October 29 and May 3.
Policies
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children. If you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room.
This property does not have elevators.
Guests can rest easy knowing there's a smoke detector on site.
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards and cash.
Credit cards accepted: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover
Cashless transactions are available.
This property reserves the right to pre-authorize the guest's credit card prior to arrival.
Also known as
Aurora Borealis Motor Inn St Ignace
Aurora Borealis Motor Inn
Aurora Borealis Motor St Ignace
Motel Aurora Borealis Motel St Ignace
St Ignace Aurora Borealis Motel Motel
Motel Aurora Borealis Motel
Aurora Borealis Motel St Ignace
Aurora Borealis St Ignace
Aurora Borealis Motor Inn
Aurora Borealis
Aurora Borealis St Ignace
Aurora Borealis Motel Motel
Aurora Borealis Motel St Ignace
Aurora Borealis Motel Motel St Ignace
Frequently asked questions
Is Aurora Borealis Motel currently open?
The property is closed between October 29 and May 3.
Does Aurora Borealis Motel offer free cancellation for a full refund?
Yes, Aurora Borealis Motel does have fully refundable room rates available to book on our site. If you’ve booked a fully refundable room rate, this can be cancelled up to a few days before check-in depending on the property's cancellation policy. Just make sure to check this property's cancellation policy for the exact terms and conditions.
Are pets allowed at Aurora Borealis Motel?
Sorry, pets aren't allowed, but service animals are welcome.
Is parking offered on site at Aurora Borealis Motel?
Yes, there's free self parking.
What are the check-in and check-out times at Aurora Borealis Motel?
Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: midnight. Check-out time is 11:00 AM. Contactless check-out is available.
Is there an onsite casino at Aurora Borealis Motel?
No, this motel doesn't have a casino, but Kewadin Casino - St. Ignace (8-min drive) is nearby.
What is there to do at Aurora Borealis Motel and nearby?
Recommended spots to visit include Wawatam Lighthouse (12-min walk) and Fort de Baude Museum (1 mi), along with Museum of Ojibwa Culture (1.3 mi) and Bridge View Park (1.7 mi).
Are there restaurants at or near Aurora Borealis Motel?
Yes, there's an onsite restaurant, Wild Blueberry.
Does Aurora Borealis Motel have any outdoor private spaces?
Yes, every room features a balcony or patio.
What's the area around Aurora Borealis Motel like?
Aurora Borealis Motel is a short 6-minute walk from Lake Huron and 5 minutes' walk from Straits State Park.
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Reviews
Aurora Borealis Motel Reviews
8.4
Very Good
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
9.0
Cleanliness
9.0
Location
8.8
Staff & service
8.2
Eco-friendliness
8.4
Property conditions & facilities
What guests liked
Good restaurants are located nearby the property. (4 reviews)
From real guest reviews summarized by AI.
Popular mentions
Room
Service staff
Bed
Location
Refrigerator
Towns
View
Breakfast
Restaurant
Wifi
Reviews
8/10 Very good
Aug 19, 2025
Good base for Mackinac Island trip
Great place to stay for a day trip across the bay to Mackinac Island.
Cynthia
Cynthia, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 16, 2025
Family weekend
Very clean very friendly staff continental breakfast mid.
Kristen
Kristen, 1-night trip
8/10 Very good
Sep 27, 2025
Stay was good. Disappointed in continental breakfast.
Betty
Betty, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Sep 27, 2025
Room was clean & comfortable. A little dated. We would definitely stay here again. For the price it was a win win for us.
Terri
Terri, 1-night trip
8/10 Very good
Jul 24, 2025
Great Value and Vibe
Older hotel with nice staff
Mark
Mark, 1-night trip
8/10 Very good
Sep 23, 2025
Convenient
Clean room. Good location for traveling further in any direction. No breakfast, but nice little restaurant next door.
Mary
Mary, 1-night trip
8/10 Very good
Sep 21, 2025
Great location for the price!
It was a great location in St. Ignace. Convenient to ferries and downtown St. Ignace. The AC unit was a bit loud, but not unbearable.
Rebecca
Rebecca, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Sep 17, 2025
Super Clean and super friendly
Really pleased with the value of our stay. Room was super clean. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Nice quiet night (after we missed finding the Northern Lights)!
David
David, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Jul 27, 2025
Clean and quiet hotel. It was perfect for our needs!
Nancy
Nancy, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Sep 8, 2025
2 Nights
Staff was super sweet and helpful we spent two nights down town was cool and walkable! We took the shuttle to the boat to Mackinac island made life easier
Bruce A Deborah
Bruce A Deborah, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 16, 2025
Great small motel
Clean and well cared for motel. Close to the downtown area. Continental breakfast was ok
Brenda
Brenda, 1-night trip
8/10 Very good
Aug 29, 2025
Clean and Comfortable
Perfect little motel just over the bridge. Its nothing fancy - but was clean and comfortable. We stayed one night before heading across the UP.
Jennifer
Jennifer, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Sep 30, 2025
Perfect for our needs. Small but only staying one night and arrived late. They called to confirm our late arrival and were very thorough in explaining how to check in. Clean and comfortable room. Good choices for breakfast on the go.
Pete
Pete, 1-night trip
8/10 Very good
Sep 25, 2025
No frills, simple room. Clean.
Richard
Richard, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Sep 7, 2025
The room was very clean. The front desk person was very friendly and knowledgeable and happy to assist us with numbers to call for our shuttle to the ferry.
Verified traveler
2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Sep 25, 2025
Clean room. Parked right in front.
John L.
John L., 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Jul 15, 2025
What more do you need?
The location was great, room was clean and bed was comfortable. Just up the hill from downtown where there is good walking.
Mark
Mark, 1-night trip
8/10 Very good
Aug 14, 2025
Family vacation.
We stayed here for three nights, I booked it because of the location. Our room was a little small but clean and new towels everyday. There was breakfast available but we opted to go right next door to the Wild Blueberry restaurant. Overall not a bad place and I would stay there again.
Robert
Robert, 3-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
May 26, 2025
Serene, quiet, lake view, comfortable, close to highway, good location base for traveling to points of interest.
Jean
Jean, 4-night trip
8/10 Very good
Aug 10, 2025
Nice stay
For a motel, this was a nice stay. Our rooms were clean and comfortable. The amenities could have been better, but this hotel’s prices were more affordable during peak tourist season. Breakfast was sparse, but again, it was much cheaper than the others. I would stay again.
Nancy
Nancy, 1-night trip
8/10 Very good
Aug 9, 2025
Solo traveler for business
Old but clean and safe. Room was clean and bedding was clean.
Amy
Amy, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Jul 14, 2025
Very Nice Motel
Room was very small but fine for us for one night. I would stay here again. Reasonably priced. The Wild Blueberry restaurant on site was very good.
Mary
Mary, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 6, 2025
Room comfortable
Breakfast is a little less than we expected…overall the stay was good. Tv had lots of good channels.
Verified traveler
2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Jul 8, 2025
Lovely stay
Very clean and comfortable. Within walking distance to the water and town. We were very please!
Albert
Albert, 3-night trip
8/10 Very good
Aug 17, 2025
Hard to sleep
Tiny room and very noise ac! Breakfast is too simple. Location is good - close to stores and restaurants. Free Mackinac island ferry pickup and parking